Man spared prison time in mailed methamphetamine case

In a Dec. 2016 summary, DEA said meth and marijuana are the two main illegal drugs on island, and that meth use amongst high school students is higher than in the mainland U.S.
Pacific Daily News

Gilbert Salas Duenas Jr., left, leaves the District Court of Guam in Hagåtña on Dec. 4, 2017 after he was sentenced to time served and two years home detention. Duenas in 2011 picked up letters that contained methamphetamine in the mail.(Photo: Jasmine Stole/PDN)

Immediately after he was arrested in 2011 for methamphetamine sent in the mail, Gilbert Salas Duenas Jr. cooperated with federal authorities, providing information about more than 30 people who used or supplied drugs, according to his attorney, Peter C. Perez.

His cooperation with the federal government was extensive, said District Court of Guam Chief Judge Frances Tydingco-Gatewood.

Because of that cooperation, Tydingco-Gatewood sentenced Duenas to time served and two years supervised release under home detention, which means he won’t spend any more time behind bars.

Duenas at one time worked at the Port Authority of Guam, and he informed authorities about some Port employees who used drugs, Perez said.

Duenas was arrested after a postal inspector in November 2011 found 18.7 grams of 99-percent pure methamphetamine hydrochloride, or "ice," in a letter sent to a Barrigada postal box, court documents state. The drugs were removed and delivered to the box and Duenas picked up the letter three days later, according to court documents.

Duenas also picked up another letter at a University of Guam post office box, after a postal inspector had searched it and seized 18.9 grams of 98.6 percent pure methamphetamine that was enclosed, documents state.

Duenas told federal agents he picked up both letters, used and sold methamphetamine and had received drugs in the mail previously, documents state.

Authorities seized a total of 37.6 grams of methamphetamine from the two letters, worth an estimated $18,000 on the street, according to Rosetta San Nicolas, assistant U.S. Attorney.

Duenas pleaded guilty in 2016 to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.

After his arrest in 2011, Duenas cooperated with federal agents from the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Drug Enforcement Administration and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Perez said at Monday’s sentencing.
The information he provided to the government led to arrests and indictments, according to Perez.

Duenas faced 30 to 37 months in prison, according to San Nicolas

After much discussion, prosecutors and the defense agreed on 127 days of time served in custody and two years home detention as an appropriate sentence.

Duenas, through tears, apologized to the people of Guam and his family for his actions. “I take full responsibility,” Duenas said in court Monday. “I’m honestly, truly so sorry I made bad choices in life.”

In addition to his extensive cooperation, the judge said the sentence was based in part on the fact that the case was close to six years old from the time the crime was committed and Duenas was taking steps to improve his life.

He completed a drug treatment program, and this year has tested negative on his drug tests, Perez said. Duenas said he is working on getting his high school diploma and he looks forward to completing his education and becoming a productive member of the community.